EARLY LIFE AND FAMILY CIRCLE 45

It is not necessary, for the purposes of the present
work, to give any detailed account of the important
part played by Li Hung-chang in the suppression of
the Taiping rebellion. The principal events of that
campaign (1853-64) have been succinctly recorded
by Professor Douglas.1 Readers who seek more
precise information will find it in the despatches
of Sir Frederick Bruce, General Staveley, and
" Chinese " Gordon, recorded in the Blue-Books of
that period,2 and may profitably compare them, as an
object-lesson in the making of history, with the con-
temporary memorials of Tseng Kuo-fan and Imperial
decrees, a collection of official documents selected
and translated by R. A. Jamieson, Interpreter in
tlie British Consular Service in China.3 The story
of his famous quarrel with Gordon in the matter of
his treacherous killing of the rebel chiefs at Soochow
exemplifies the truth that, with all his superior intel-
ligence and three years' experience of Europeans at
close quarters, Li Hung-chang was no more able to
look at the moral side of things from Gordon's point
of view than Gordon was able to recite the Chinese
Classics backwards. In expecting Li to assimilate
and act upon his own humane and chivalrous ideas
of warfare, Gordon showed a lack of judgment and
insight fully equal to that which Li displayed when he
refused to believe that the Englishman attached
serious importance to his pledged word. But the
whole episode, though rendered memorable and
dramatic by Gordon's characteristic outburst of
righteous wrath and vengeful pursuit of the offending

1 " Li Hung-chang," by Professor Robert K. Douglas (London, 1895)
a Also vide " General Gordon's Diary- in China/' by S. Mossman (1885
8 Published as pamphlets (Shanghai, 1864*6$)*